[ad_1] The candidate also vows to “dramatically” lower the cost of service. He would require basic internet plans, up the FCC’s minimum definition of broadband from 10Mbps to 100Mbps, regulate rates and fully subsidize entry-level plans for low-income households. This would involve protecting and expanding the Lifeline program. He would outright ban data caps and […]
Category: regulation
China now requires face scans to sign up for phone service
[ad_1] There are privacy issues beyond that, too. China is known to use facial recognition to track and suppress ethnic minorities, and also uses it against virtually everyone to spot travelers and cars that are on a state-run blacklist. It’s not clear that China will get rid of face scans after the verification process, potentially […]
EU investigates Google data collection practices
[ad_1] We’ve asked Google for comment. In the past, it explained that it used data to improve its services and gave users controls to manage and delete their info. An investigation doesn’t necessarily guarantee the EU will file an antitrust case. However, officials have previously slapped Google with over €8 billion (about $8.8 billion) in […]
FCC bans carriers from buying Huawei, ZTE gear with subsidies
[ad_1] Regulators brought out a familiar argument to justify the decision. They argued that Chinese firms are legally required to assist with spying and that public funds shouldn’t be used to “endanger national security” with companies that could be forced to install surveillance backdoors or spread malware. There hasn’t been public evidence of Huawei or […]
States sue to prevent EPA from revoking state emissions powers
[ad_1] California Attorney General Xavier Becerra pointed out that California had received over 100 waivers from the EPA over the past 50 years — this was a sudden about-face from a federal administration that had allegedly “chosen to side with polluters.” Becerra also argued that the waivers had been granted both to reflect its leadership […]
Uber has to pay New Jersey nearly $650 million in employment taxes
[ad_1] New Jersey gave Uber a $54 million bill back in 2015, but it’s not certain if the company ever paid that. Not surprisingly, Uber is contesting the bill. It told Engadget it was “challenging this preliminary but incorrect determination,” insisting that drivers are “independent contractors.” The company believes the bill overestimate its business in […]
China tells online stores to stop selling e-cigarettes
[ad_1] It’s not certain if or when the ban will end. This isn’t the first time Chinese retailers have pulled e-cigs, but it’s considerably broader than before. In September, Juul’s e-cigarettes disappeared from shelves just a week after they became available in China. This will be a serious blow to e-cig makers in China if […]
New York Supreme Court dismisses Uber’s challenge to vehicle caps
[ad_1] Uber told Engadget it was “disappointed” with the outcome, claiming that it “punishes” drivers who are obligated to rent cars. In the past, it has argued that the caps would hurt outer boroughs (with less access to mass transit) and wouldn’t fix NYC’s problems with traffic congestion. It’s not shocking that the Supreme Court […]
FCC proposal would ban some US telecoms from using Huawei, ZTE gear
[ad_1] The rationale for the proposal won’t surprise you. Pai argued in an opinion piece that Chinese companies are beholden to demands from the country’s intelligence agencies, and that companies like Huawei could theoretically be forced to install backdoors or otherwise cooperate with surveillance on “sensitive” American communications. The Chairman claimed that vulnerabilities in Huawei […]
China passes law regulating data encryption
[ad_1] The law requires that all state secrets be stored and transmitted using “core and common” encryption, and that institutions working on cryptography have to establish “management systems” that guarantee the security of that encryption. Those managers won’t be allowed to ask private encryption developers to turn over “exclusive” info like source code, though, and […]